WOLLEY
Wolley
Wolley is an ancient British surname with origins that can be traced back to the Anglo-Saxon period. The surname is believed to be of locational origin, derived from one of the places named Woolley in England, such as Woolley in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, or Shropshire.
Variants of the surname include Woolley, Woolly, Wooley, and Wolley. The etymology of the name is thought to derive from the Old English word "wudu", meaning wood, and "leah", meaning clearing or meadow. Therefore, Woolley may have signified someone who lived near a wood or clearing.
The first recorded instance of the surname is found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where a "Cild de Uoleg" is mentioned in Kent. Over the centuries, the surname Wolley has spread throughout the British Isles and beyond, with notable concentrations in Yorkshire, Derbyshire, and Lancashire.
Individuals bearing the surname Wolley have made significant contributions to various fields, including politics, academia, and the arts. Notable bearers of the Wolley surname include Thomas Woolley, an English barrister and politician, and Francis Wolley, an 18th-century English naturalist.
Today, the Wolley surname continues to be borne by individuals across the United Kingdom and around the world, maintaining a connection to its ancient origins and the rich tapestry of British history.
There are approximately 136 people named Wolley in the UK. That makes it one of Britain's least common surnames. Only around two in a million people in Britain are named Wolley.
Typical given names associated with the surname
Male
- Andrew
- Christopher
- David
- James
- John
- Liam
- Mark
- Peter
- Richard
- Robert
- Timothy
Female
- Anne
- Claire
- Elizabeth
- Emma
- Fiona
- Joanne
- Katherine
- Kathleen
- Nia
- Rebecca